The Manchester City midfielder beat Edwin van der Sar at the start of the second-half to score the only goal against Manchester United, ending the Red Devils' treble bid and sending the Blues into their first final since 1981.

And Toure immediately thought of Kolo, currently suspended pending a hearing into his failed drugs test, but who was present to watch City book a May 14 date with either Stoke or Bolton.

"I am very sad for him at this moment in time," said the former Barcelona star.

"He is a professional player and he wants to play.

"People make mistakes sometimes. It is part of life. It is part of sport.

"Mentally, he is a strong guy. He is the most important person in my life.

"Every time I speak with him he helps me. I dedicate this win to him and the fans."

Kolo Toure will still be absent when City attempt to end their 35-year trophy drought.

They will do so on the 30th anniversary of their last appearance in the final, when they lost to Tottenham in a game made memorable by Ricky Villa's superb solo effort.

Toure accepts nothing has been achieved yet.

"I am very happy," he said.

"We have beaten our big rivals, which is fantastic and we are going to enjoy it.

"I am really happy for the fans. They have been waiting 35 years for a trophy. It is a long time.

"I think this is going to be the year for Manchester City. But it is not finished. We have to take a second step.

"I am not bothered about who we play. They both have enough quality to win the FA Cup but we will be very hard to beat."

It is a measure of the progress City have made since Sheikh Mansour began to make his mammoth investment in the Eastlands outfit that they are not now able purely to concentrate on the final.

They also have a top four place to try to secure, which Toure accepts is an equally important goal.

"It is our target to reach the Champions League and we are working for that," he said.

"We want to win something. We all want to be part of the story of this club."